Water quality is a primary area of focus for the Lake Zoar Authority. Beginning in 2020, Western Connecticut State University’s Cyanobacteria Monitoring Program includes Lake Zoar in a weekly water testing program. The annual program monitors Cyanobacteria in regional lakes during the summer months when blooms are most likely. When Microcystin toxin levels exceeded federal and state limits, public beaches are closed. The towns and DEEP also test water at public beaches.
The LZA’s role is information gathering. The LZA also participates in water studies to learn more about the changing conditions of the water. In addition to quality, the LZA has an extensive program to control the growth of invasive weeds and as funds allow the most infested areas are treated with an herbicide that is used in over 150 lakes in CT each year.
Submitted herein are test results and survey reports for public interest.
For additional information, please visit:
CT DEEP Lake and Pond Water Quality Monitoring Program
CT DEEP Lake Water Quality Management
WCSU Environmental Research Project
SOLitude Lake Management
FirstLight Power
Local Health Departments:
Monroe
Newtown
Oxford & Southbury
“Survey Dates: The pre-treatment survey of Lake Zoar was conducted on June 18th. A second survey was conducted on July 27th, after the first herbicide treatment and prior to the second. The final survey was conducted on October 1st, following the second herbicide treatment. ......
“From: Ghada Hafez<hafezg@wcsu.edu> Date: Fri, Sep 4, 2020 at 10:02 AM Subject: Final microcystin toxin report for Sep 02, 2020 To: lakezoar@gmail.com <lakezoar@gmail.com Here are the final week’s assay results for Microcystin levels at tested public beach sites. Samples were collected Sept 02, 2020, below or away......
“Here are this week’s assay results for Microcystin levels at tested public beach sites. Samples were collected August 26, 2020, below or away from any floating bloom material. Results meet the assay kit’s QC criteria. The U.S. EPA and CT DPH currently advise a Microcystin threshold of......
“Here are this week’s assay results for Microcystin levels at tested public beach sites. Samples were collected August 19, 2020, below or away from any floating bloom material. Results meet the assay kit’s QC criteria. – The U.S. EPA and CT DPH currently advise a Microcystin......
LAKE ZOAR – MONROE, NEWTOWN, OXFORD, SOUTHBURY TOWN HALL POSTING In accordance with CT DEEP, Pesticide Division notification requirements, selected areas of Lake Zoar will be chemically treated with Reward (Diquat) herbicide targeting control the aquatic nuisance plants Eurasian watermilfoil and curlyleaf pondweed. The treatment......
UPDATE: The August 2020 herbicide treatment has been rescheduled to Wednesday, August 26, 2020, weather permitting. NOTIFICATION OF AQUATIC TREATMENT SCHEDULING LAKE ZOAR MONROE, NEWTOWN, OXFORD, SOUTHBURY In accordance with CT DEEP, Pesticide Division notification requirements, selected areas of Lake Zoar will be chemically......
“Here are this week’s assay results for Microcystin levels at tested public beach sites. Samples were collected August 13, 2020, below or away from any floating bloom material. Results meet the assay kit’s QC criteria. The U.S. EPA and CT DPH currently advise a Microcystin threshold of 8.0......
NOTIFICATION OF AQUATIC TREATMENT SCHEDULING LAKE ZOAR MONROE, NEWTOWN, OXFORD, SOUTHBURY In accordance with CT DEEP, Pesticide Division notification requirements, selected areas of Lake Zoar will be chemically treated with Reward (Diquat) herbicide, targeting control the aquatic nuisance plants Eurasian watermilfoil and curlyleaf pondweed. The......
Here are the Microcystin toxin report for samples collected Aug 5, 2020. *Jackson Cove beach was not able to be accessed due to fallen trees and power lines. “Microcystin Report Samples collected August 5, 2020 Site ppb (ug/L) Beseck 0.516 Brookfield 0.314 Danbury 0.341......
Here are this week’s assay results for Microcystin levels at tested public beach sites. Samples were collected July 29, 2020, below or away from any floating bloom material. Results meet the assay kit’s QC criteria. The U.S. EPA and CT DPH currently advise......
Here are this week’s assay results for Microcystin levels at tested public beach sites. Samples were collected July 15, 2020, below or away from any floating bloom material. Results meet the assay kit’s QC criteria. The U.S. EPA and CT DPH currently advise a......
Here are this week’s assay results for Microcystin levels at tested public beach sites. Samples were collected July 8, 2020, below or away from any floating bloom material. Results meet the assay kit’s QC criteria. – The U.S. EPA and CT DPH currently advise a......
Here are the microcystin cyanotoxin concentrations from the start of the Western Connecticut State University Cyanobacteria Monitoring Program in 2016 through 2019. – Please note that prior to 2019, the limit for microcystin in recreational waters was 4 ppb. The limit was raised to 8 ppb......
Here are this week’s assay results for Microcystin levels at tested public beach sites. Samples were collected July 1, 2020, below or away from any floating bloom material. Results meet the assay kit’s QC criteria. The U.S. EPA and CT DPH currently advise a......
NOTIFICATION OF AQUATIC TREATMENT SCHEDULING LAKE ZOAR MONROE, NEWTOWN, OXFORD, SOUTHBURY In accordance with CT DEEP, Pesticide Division notification requirements, selected areas of Lake Zoar will be chemically treated with Reward (Diquat) herbicide, targeting control the aquatic nuisance plants Eurasian watermilfoil and curlyleaf pondweed.......
May 11, 2020 ♦ by WCSU News “DANBURY, CONN. — Western Connecticut State University Associate Professor of Biological and Environmental Sciences Dr. Edwin M. Wong has received a $20,000 grant from Praxair/Linde to fund his continuing environmental research. Wong currently is researching and investigating toxic......
UPDATE: The 2020 herbicide treatment plan has been tentatively rescheduled for June 23, weather permitting. The lake will be chemically treated with Reward (Diquat) herbicide to control the aquatic nuisance plants Eurasian watermilfoil and curlyleaf pondweed, applied by SOLitude Lake Management. The exact treatment date......
Lake Zoar is scheduled for herbicide treatment during the third week of June, between June 15 and 19, 2020, to be applied by SOLitude Lake Management. The lake will be chemically treated with Reward (Diquat) herbicide to control the aquatic nuisance plants Eurasian watermilfoil and curlyleaf......
Report Comments: “Comparison of the pre-treatment and post-treatment survey data suggests that the treatment reduced, but did not eliminate, milfoil in nearly all treatment areas. Milfoil frequency in the treatment areas reduced by 15% to 57%. Treatment Area 3 is the only area in which milfoil......
